The Trek Domane SLR 9 all-road bike in review

The Trek Domane SLR 9 certainly wins the prize for the most striking paint job. Thanks to its bright Project One colour scheme, you can’t miss it. But, can the bike also outshine the competition in terms of all-road performance with its IsoSpeed system and new Shimano DURA-ACE Di2 groupset?

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test

The Project One paint job of the Trek Domane SLR 9 screams for attention, which they’re calling Radioactive Coral to Yellow Fade. But once it’s got your attention, it’s time to back up the loud colours with an equally striking performance. To do so, the bike takes out all the stops. With the IsoSpeed system, it’s the only bike on test that relies on an active suspension at the front and rear. It’s even adjustable at the rear, allowing you to adapt the damping to the rider’s weight. Moreover, the Trek Domane SLR 9 is the only bike on test to feature Shimano’s new DURA-ACE Di2 groupset, though it’s also the most expensive bike on test by far, priced at a whopping € 12,099.

The combination of a 50/34 t crankset and a 11–34 t cassette gives plenty of reserves for steep climbs, but you might run out gears on those full speed straights and descents. Like most of the bikes on test, Trek rely on a two-piece cockpit, pairing a 100 mm Bontrager RSL Carbon stem with a Bontrager Pro IsoCore VR-SF handlebar measuring 440 mm in width. We’ve got nothing to complain about regarding the cockpit’s ergonomics and control, and the level of integration is far better than on the likes of the Specialized and Parapera, though the cable routing could be neater still. Despite the fact that the cable routing has to find a way around the IsoSpeed system in the head tube, we expect more from a bike at this price point.

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Asphalt, gravel, potholes – doesn’t matter! The Trek Domane SLR 9 will blast over it all thanks to the IsoSpeed system.

For the wheels, Trek rely on their in-house Bontrager RSL 37 models, featuring a rim depth of 37 mm and an internal width of 21 mm. These are fitted with Bontrager R3 Hard-Case Lite tires measuring 700 x 32C, inflating to 33 mm in this combination. The rims offer just enough support for the tires, and they’re set up without tubes. With a maximum tire clearance of 38 mm, the most generous on test, there’s plenty of room left if you fancy meatier tires. In size 58, our test bike tips the scales at 7.87 kg.

Size	47	50	52	54	56	58	60	62
Seat tube	420 mm	450 mm	475 mm	500 mm	525 mm	548 mm	567 mm	586 mm
Top tube	509 mm	519 mm	530 mm	542 mm	554 mm	567 mm	579 mm	593 mm
Head tube	110 mm	130 mm	145 mm	160 mm	175 mm	195 mm	220 mm	245 mm
Head angle	71.0°	71.1°	71.3°	71.3°	71.9°	72.0°	72.1°	72.1°
Seat angle	74.6°	74.6°	74.2°	73.7°	73.3°	73.0°	72.8°	72.5°
Chainstays	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	420 mm	425 mm	425 mm	425 mm
BB Drop	80 mm	80 mm	80 mm	80 mm	78 mm	78 mm	75 mm	75 mm
Wheelbase	986 mm	996 mm	1,003 mm	1,010 mm	1,008 mm	1,022 mm	1,032 mm	1,042 mm
Reach	364 mm	368 mm	371 mm	374 mm	377 mm	380 mm	383 mm	386 mm
Stack	527 mm	546 mm	561 mm	575 mm	591 mm	611 mm	632 mm	656 mm

Riding the Trek Domane SLR 9

The Trek Domane SLR 9 is on par with the Cervélo Caledonia-5 ULTEGRA Di2 in terms of speed. The acceleration feels direct and willing, though it can’t quite keep up with the class-leading Specialized and Parapera in this regard. However, that isn’t to say it’s slow by any means, offering an outstanding level of efficiency in the mid and top speed range. Thanks to the bike’s aerodynamic optimisation and first-rate compliance, it feels unstoppable once it’s got going. The excellent compliance also proves that Trek’s suspension concept works: the adjustable IsoSpeed system at the rear allows riders to dial in the damping so that they’ve got the perfect balance, regardless of their size and weight. The vibration damping on the Domane is almost on par with the Specialized Aethos Expert or the BMC Roadmachine X ONE, and its bump absorption starts to outperform them as the impacts get bigger. As such, it’s a lot more versatile with regard to the kind of terrain you can ride on, whereas the BMC is limited to gravel and the Specialized is happier on asphalt.

In terms of handling, the Trek Domane SLR 9 only has one minor weakness, which is that it feels slightly nervous at very slow speeds. This is something it has in common with thoroughbred race bikes, so it’s not surprising that it also feels increasingly stable as you pick up speed. In that case, the handling feels balanced, combining the same kind of composure as the most stable bikes on test with a level of agility that ambitious riders will approve of. The best description we can think of for the handling is: serious instead of playful. As such, it’s the kind of bike that will instil you with confidence regardless of your skill level and experience, though the cornering precision suffers slightly due to the wide tires. While we generally don’t have anything to complain about regarding rider confidence, we encountered a bit of paradox on the Trek Domane SLR 9. The new Shimano DURA-ACE stoppers are so good that they might overwhelm less experienced riders in some situations. Their braking power is immense even if you pull the lever only slightly, engaging so suddenly that they might catch you by surprise. This is something that you should keep in mind, especially when riding on slippery or loose surfaces. That said, experienced riders will love these brakes on fast, technical descents.

Tuning tip: if you don’t like attracting attention, paint it black! For everyone else: go ahead and enjoy riding the best all-road bike of the year

No other bike on test is able to combine so much everyday usability with such long-distance comfort and race performance on such a wide variety of terrain as the Trek Domane SLR 9. You can just as easily take it for a leisurely Sunday ride as you could to race and win at Paris-Roubaix. After being crowned the winner of the unofficial prize for most striking paint job, the Trek Domane SLR 9 proved to be the most versatile bike on test and thereby claims the top spot as the best all-road bike of 2022. And that’s not just because it doesn’t have many flaws, but above all because it’s got so many strengths. Congratulations on the win, Trek Domane SLR 9!

Our conclusion on the Trek Domane SLR 9

The Trek Domane SLR 9 delivers in terms of handling, comfort, and speed, making it fast and fun to ride on almost any kind of tour and a wide variety of terrain. As such, it’s the deserved Best in Test and the right bike not just for those who want to cruise along at a relaxed pace but also those who have a competitive streak and a yearning to race. If all you’re interested in is the climbs and you tend to circumnavigate poorly maintained roads, you’ll find better climbers in the test field.

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You can find out more about at trekbikes.com

The testfield

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best all-road bike 2022 – 7 models on test

All bikes on review: BMC Roadmachine X ONE (Click for review) | Cervelo Caledonia-5 Ultegra Di2 (Click for review) | Parapera Atmos MASTERPIECE (Click for review) | ROSE REVEAL SIX DISC Red eTap AXS (Click for review) | Sarto Seta Disc (Click for review) | Specialized Aethos Expert (Click for review) | Trek Domane SLR 9

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Words: Photos: Benjamin Topf